The market of international road freight transportation of Ukraine in the context of integration into the single European transport space: development trends, barriers and ways to overcome them
Boichenko M. V.,
Doctor of Economics, Professor,
ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9874-3085
e-mail: bojchenko.m.v@nmu.one;
Boiarkin M. O.,
postgraduate student,
ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7491-2784
e-mail: Boiarkin.My.O@nmu.one;
Osadchyi O. O.,
postgraduate student,
ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8410-9649
e-mail: Osadchyi.O.O@nmu.one
NTU “Dnipro Polytechnic”, Dnipro
Citation Format
Boichenko, M. V., Boiarkin, M. O., & Osadchyi, O. O. (2025). The market of international road freight transportation of Ukraine in the context of integration into the single European transport space: development trends, barriers and ways to overcome them. Vіsnyk ekonomіchnoі nauky Ukraіny, 2 (49), 15-25. https://doi.org/10.37405/1729-7206.2025.2(49).15-25
Language5
Ukrainian
Resume
The article substantiates the strategic importance of the process of integrating the automobile segment of the freight market into the single European transport space in the recovery of the Ukrainian economy. A quantitative analysis of global, European and domestic freight transportation, including road transport, is provided. Key trends in the development of the international and, in particular, the European freight market are identified, which include the growth of demand for “green transport” and transparent environmental standards, intensive digitalization and automation, the transition to multimodality, as well as more stringent regulatory requirements and challenges in terms of staffing.
A list of barriers to the integration process is provided, including Ukraine’s internal problems, such as the need to modernize infrastructure, imperfect legal and institutional capacity, competition in the market, as well as difficulties with compliance with regulatory requirements and interinstitutional coordination. On the EU side, the main barriers are infrastructure, regulatory, investment challenges and environmental sustainability issues. A set of measures has been formed to overcome barriers in the process of integrating Ukrainian road freight transport into the EU single transport space. In particular, it is important for Ukraine to finance infrastructure modernization, adapt legislation to European standards, stimulate competition, support small and medium-sized enterprises, ensure monitoring of regulations and strengthen inter-institutional coordination. On the EU side, important measures are joint cross-border infrastructure projects, harmonization of standards, conclusion of agreements to simplify customs and border procedures, attraction of investments through international funds, as well as the introduction of environmental standards and incentives for “green” transport.
Keywords
economic recovery, freight market, road transport, integration, barriers.
Referensces
- Gnedina, K. V., & Nagorny, P. V. (2023). The freight market in Ukraine: analysis of the current state, challenges of wartime and development prospects. Entrepreneurship and Trade, 38, 19-28. https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-1256-2023-38-03 [in Ukrainian].
- Mokryakov, A. (2022). Freight transportation market in Ukraine: results of recent research and forecasts. https://logist.fm/publications/rinok-vantazhnih-perevezen-v-ukrayini-rezultati-ostannih-doslidzhen-ta-prognozi [in Ukrainian].
- Luchnikova, T. (2022). International cargo transportation through the territory of Ukraine in wartime. Goods and markets, 3, 37–46. https://doi.org/10.31617/2.2022(43)03 [in Ukrainian].
- Mykhaylik, N. I. (2024). Main challenges and prospects for the development of transport logistics in wartime conditions. The actual problems of regional economy development, 1, 20, 163–172. https://doi.org/10.15330/1.20.163-172 [in Ukrainian].
- B. Kushnir et al. (2023). Logistics and international trade of Ukraine in wartime conditions. Scientific Bulletin of Uzhhorod University. Series “Economics”, 1(61), 23–25. https://doi.org/10.24144/2409-6857.2023. 1(61).23-25 [in Ukrainian].
- Bugayko, D. О., & Boniar, S. M. (2025). Rebuilding the Transportation Sector of Ukraine: a Comprehensive Approach to Financing, Investment and Recovery. Vіsnyk ekonomіchnoі nauky Ukraіny, 1(48), 42-48. https://doі.org/10.37405/1729-7206.2025.1(48).42-48 [in Ukrainian].
- Shkurenko, O. V. (2021). Strategic Imperatives for the Development of Logistics Infrastructure in Ukraine in a Closed-Loop Economy. Visnyk ekonomichnoi nauky Ukrainy, 1(40), 137-141. https://doi.org/10.37405/1729-7206.2021.1(40).137-141 [in Ukrainian].
- Boichenko, M. V. (2022). Supply Chain Management in the Postwar Period. Visnyk ekonomichnoi nauky Ukrainy, 1(42), 148-152. https://doi.org/10.37405/1729-7206.2022.1(42).148-152 [in Ukrainian].
- Maslova, T. V. (2020). Efficiency of cargo transportation by road in international traffic for one-time orders: [Theses of Dissertation of Candidate of Technical Sciences: 05.22.01, Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University]. Kharkiv [in Ukrainian].
- Remekh, I. O. (2023). Increasing the efficiency of cargo transportation by road in international traffic [Dissertation of Doctor of Philosophy: 275, National Transport University of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine]. Kyiv [in Ukrainian].
- Poplawski, K.(2024). Unequal competition. The consequences of the liberalisation of EU–Ukraine road carriage for Central Europe. https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2024-04-04/unequal-competition-consequences-liberalisation-eu-ukraine
- Bandura, R., Staguhn, J., & Jensen, B. (2022). Modernizing Ukraine’s Transport and Logistics Infrastructure. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). https://www.csis.org/analysis/modernizing-ukraines-transport-and-logistics-infrastructure
- Freight Transport Market Size, Share and Trends 2024 to 2034 (n.d.). https://www.precedenceresearch.com/freight-transport-market
- Road freight transport statistics (n.d.). Data Browser Eurostat. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Road_freight_transport_statistics
- Modal split of air, sea and inland freight transport (n.d.). Data Browser Eurostat. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tran_hv_ms_frmod/default/table?lang=en
- The outlook for European road transport in 2025 (n.d.). https://market-insights.upply.com/en/the-outlook-for-european-road-transport-in-2025
- Transport of Ukraine 2023 (2024). Statistical collection of the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine. https://stat.gov.ua/uk/publications/transport-ukrayiny-2023 [in Ukrainian].
- Green Paper “International Road Freight Market. (2020). Office for Effective Regulation https://brdo.com.ua/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ZK-Rynok-mizhnarodnyh-vantazhnyh-avtomobilnyh-perevezen.pdf [in Ukrainian].
- The crisis provoked by the war leads to a decrease in the number of truckers (n.d.). https://logist.fm/publications/kriza-sprovokovana-viynoyu-prizvodit-do-zmenshennya-kilkosti-avtopereviznikiv [in Ukrainian].
- Report on direct infrastructure damage from destruction as a result of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine as of early 2024 (2024). Kyiv School of Economics. https://kse.ua/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/01.01.24_ Damages_Report.pdf [in Ukrainian].
- Infrastructure index 2023 (n.d.). https://eba.com.ua/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/presentation-UKR.pdf [in Ukrainian].
- Infrastructure and logistics (n.d.). https://ukraineinvest.gov.ua/industries/infrastructure/
- Dlihach, A. (2024, June 20). How business is doing in the third year of the war. Research results. Economichna pravda. https://www.epravda.com.ua/columns/2024/06/20/715467/ [in Ukrainian].
- Yalivets, H. (2025, !6 July). A third of trucks are idle: The government estimated the shortage of drivers in Ukraine at 40 thousand people. Censor. https://censor.net/n3563622 [in Ukrainian].
- Bukatiuk, U. (2024, May 21). Transportation market on the verge of collapse. https://forbes.ua/news/ zhertvi-fopizatsii-vodii-fur-zvilnyayutsya-ta-kazhut-pro-kolaps-chomu-rinok-perevezen-zlyakavsya-zakonu-pro-mobilizatsiyu-ta-chi-mozhlivo-virishiti-problemu-21052024-21291 [in Ukrainian].
- Transport of Ukraine 2019 (2020). Statistical collection of the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine [in Ukrainian].
- EUR-Lex. Access to European Union law (2011, March 28). White paper. Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system. Document 52011DC0144. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A52011DC0144
- European Environment Agency (2022, 07 September). Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty vehicles in Europe. https://doi.org/10.29228/eng.pers.57703
- Konečny, V., Zuzaniak, M., & Jonasikova, D. (2025). Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Road Transport and Their Economic Value in the Assessment of Transport Projects Using a Cost–Benefit Analysis: Approaches Implemented in the Slovak Republic and Selected Central European Countries. Sci., 15 (3), 1283. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031283.
- Kulikowska, A. (2024). “Bitter satisfaction”: mixed reactions from European hauliers to Mobility Package ruling. https://trans.info/en/mobility-package-ruling-399629
- European Transport Workers’ Federation (2025, Februsry 19). EU Green Deal: Data Shows That Shift from Road to Rail is Not Happening https://www.etf-europe.org/eu-green-deal-data-shows-that-shift-from-road-to-rail-is-not-happening/
- European Union (n.d.). Logistics and multimodal transport. https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/logistics-and-multimodal-transport_en
- Karam,, Klejs Jensen, A.J., & Hussein, M. (2023). Analysis of the barriers to multimodal freight transport and their mitigation strategies. European Transport Research Review, 15, 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12544-023-00614-0
- European Parliament (n.d.). Common transport policy: Overview European Commission. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/123/common-transport-policy-overview
- Béguerie, (2025). The outlook for European road transport in 2025. https://market-insights.upply.com/en/the-outlook-for-european-road-transport-in-2025
- European Commission (n.d.). Multimodal logistics in the context of EU policies [DG MOVE]. https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2022-11/6%28b2%29_EU_UN%20Intermodal%20Working%20Party%20%281%29.pdf
- EU transport policies: looking back and moving forward (2024, December 12). Publyon. https://publyon.com/eu-transport-policies-looking-back-and-moving-forward/?switch_language=en
- López,(2024). How is multimodal transport transforming the global economy? https://inspenet.com/en/articulo/multimodal-transport-in-global-economy/
- European Union (2022, 12 May). Commission Decision of 12.5.2022 on the signing of a High-Level Understanding between the European Union and Ukraine on indicative maps of the Trans-European transport network in Ukraine, being a high-level agreement within the meaning of Article 49(6) of Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 (TEN-T regulation). https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/european-commission-establish-solidarity-lanes-help-ukraine-export-agricultural-goods-2022-05-12_en?prefLang=uk
- Transport barometer (n.d.). TIMOCOM. https://surl.li/upbydz
- Implementing the European Green Deal in Transport and Shaping Sustainable Mobility (2022, August). BRDO Office for Effective Regulation. https://brdo.com.ua/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ZK-Realizatsiya-YEvropey-skogo-zelenogo-kursu-v-transporti-ta-formuvannya-staloi-mobilnosti.pdf [in Ukrainian].
- Sustainable development of land freight transportation in Ukraine (d.). International Transport Forum https://www.itf-oecd.org/modes/Road?f%5B0%5D=field_theme_tax%3A1&f%5B1%5D=field_category_tax%3A12 [in Ukrainian].
- Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (2024, December 27). On approval of the National Transport Strategy of Ukraine for the period until 2030 and approval of the operational plan of measures for its implementation in 2025-2027. Resolution № 1550. https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1550-2024-%D0%BF#Text [in Ukrainian].
- Transport Strategy 2030: What is planned for the road transport sector (2025, Junuary 30). Centre for transport strategies. https://cfts.org.ua/articles/transportna_strategiya_2030_scho_peredbacheno_dlya_sferi_avtomobilnikh_ perevezen_2086/144361 [in Ukrainian].
Full Text (.pdf)
Received: 14.09.2025
Accepted: 21.10.2025
Published: 29.12.2025